Ocean Sunfish
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| Name: Mola mola (common ocean sunfish) Family: Molidae (ocean sunfishes) | ||||||
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The Ocean Sunfish[nb 1] is a fish in the Animal Crossing series introduced in Animal Crossing: Wild World. It appears during the summer months, and it is the least valuable member of the shark family, selling for 4,000 Bells. Its shadow, like all other members of the shark family, is either large or huge and has a fin protruding from the sea.
Contents
Catch details[edit]
In Wild World[edit]
"I caught an ocean sunfish! Don't look directly at it!♪"
In City Folk[edit]
"I caught an ocean sunfish! I'm feeling pretty sunny now!♪"
In New Leaf[edit]
"I caught an ocean sunfish! My day is brighter already!"
| Time of Year | Jun – Sep All year (Tortimer Island) |
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| Time of Day | 4 AM – 9 PM |
| Peak Times | N/A |
| Location | Sea Tortimer Island |
| Shadow Size | Huge (with fin) |
| Fish Size | 300 cm |
| Rarity | Unknown |
| Selling Price |  4000 Bells
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| Tank Size | 
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In Pocket Camp[edit]
| Event Availability | Ocean Sunfish Goals |
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| Location | Saltwater Shores |
| Shadow Size | Huge With Fin |
| Fish Size | 252.2 cm – 349.0 cm |
| Rarity | ★★★ |
| Catch Rate | 3.4692% |
| Selling Price | 4,000 Bells
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| Request Reward | 1,500 Bells, 3  Friendship PointsFortune Cookie (20%), Bronze Treats (30%) |
In New Horizons[edit]
"I caught an ocean sunfish! Good thing I'm wearing ocean sunscreen!"
| Time of Year | North: Jul – Sep South: Jan – Mar |
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| Time of Day | 4 AM – 9 PM |
| Location | Sea |
| Shadow Size | Large w/Fin |
| Rarity | |
| Total Catch | 20 |
| Selling Prices |  Nook's Cranny: 4000 Bells C.J.: 6000 Bells
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| Tank Size |
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Donating to the museum[edit]
Upon donation to the museum, Blathers will say the following:
In Wild World[edit]
"I understand that ocean sunfish are edible, but... I've also heard that unless it's incredibly fresh, it tastes rather foul. As such, it's usually only eaten where it's caught!"
The ocean sunfish will be found in the second room in the sea tank.
In City Folk[edit]
"...The ocean sunfish, it turns out, is related to the blowfish! Shocking, no? Absolutely mind-boggly! The resemblance is quite strong in its little mouth and round body... Seems rather blowfishy to me! ...There's something almost therapeutic about watching its slow, dull movements and vacant expression."
It can be found in the tank at the back of the aquarium, with other sea fish.
In New Leaf[edit]
An information board in the aquarium displays a description of the ocean sunfish:
"Ocean Sunfish are a relative of blowfish that can reach up to two tons in weight. Lacking a tail fin, they cannot swim particularly quickly, which is an odd bit of anatomical detriment. The number of eggs they can lay is the most in the world at over 300 million. However, out of that 300 million, only one or two fish will ultimately survive. Ocean sunfish sometimes like to bob up and down on the surface of the ocean. This gives them the appearance they're sunbathing, which helps to make them a popular breed of fish."
In New Horizons[edit]
When donating to the museum, Blathers will say the following:
"The ocean sunfish is a large relative of the blowfish with an unusual shape, like a fish head with a tail. They are a fairly relaxed species, often content to ride where the currents take them. This is fortunate as, otherwise, the sight of a large head coming toward you might be alarming!" The Ocean Sunfish is found in the second exihbit, with the Horse Mackerel, the Anchovy, the Whale Shark and the Great White.
Gallery[edit]
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Animal Crossing: City Folk
Animal Crossing: City Folk
(data-rendered model)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Real-world information[edit]
The ocean sunfish, mola mola, is a tropical fish related to the puffer fish. It's the largest known bony fish, at up to 3.3m long and 4.2m tall, and weighing over 2 metric tons. When resting they will lay down on their side just below the ocean's surface in the sun, which is where they get their name. This behavior is believed to warm them, as prolonged exposure to waters below 12 °C (54 °F) can disorientate or even kill them.
Despite being classified as a bony fish, they have a skeleton largely comprised of cartilage, due to the sizes they reach. Like some other toothless bony fish, it has pharyngeal teeth, or teeth in its throat. Traditionally believed to feed primarily on jellyfish, they are now known to be generalist predators, also eating fish larvae, squid, crustaceans, and even eelgrass. Ocean sunfish are often victims of skin parasites, and they will invite small fish and even birds to clean their skin.
Names in other languages[edit]
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マンボウ manbō |
Ocean sunfish, often translated as "circle fish" (actual etymology unclear) |
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개복치 gaebokji |
Ocean sunfish |
 
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翻车鱼 / 翻車魚 fānchēyú |
Ocean sunfish, lit. "overturned car/wheel fish" after its basking behavior |
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Луна-рыба Luna-ryba |
Lit "moon fish" |
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Klompvis | Lit. "clogs fish" |
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Mondfisch | Lit. "moon fish" |
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Pez luna | Lit. "moon fish" |
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Lune de mer | Sea moon |
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Poisson-lune | Lit. "moon fish" |
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Pesce luna | Lit. "moon fish" |
Notes[edit]
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